BEARS IN BRIEF: North stars: Bears cast gaze at Vikes

The Bears still are a month away from playing the Minnesota Vikings for the first time this season, but they have a sense of what the NFC North leaders are all about.

They saw Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field go off without a hitch Sunday in a 38-26 victory that propelled the Vikings to 7-1 and gave them a 2½-game lead on the Bears and Packers. The Bears have given their full attention to the defending NFC champion Arizona Cardinals, who come to Soldier Field on Sunday. But they acknowledge that the key to their season is a visit to the Metrodome on Nov. 29.

''When you've got all the weapons [Favre] has, they're a very good team,'' defensive end Alex Brown said. ''Every aspect of their team, they're very good. The receivers, the running back, gosh, that guy is amazing, the offensive line is crazy. Their defense, Jared Allen coming off the edge, you've got the two Williams boys [Kevin and Pat Williams] in the middle, they're tough. And [Antoine] Winfield, I don't think he played, their little corner who hits like a linebacker. They're definitely a team to beat. One of the best teams in the league.''

But the Bears need to focus on their business and hope that two meetings with the Vikings in the final six weeks of the season will be meaningful.

''There's nothing we can do,'' Brown said. ''We can't go up there and kidnap [Favre], you know? They're good, they're really good.''

Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin re-injured his sprained right ankle in the third quarter of the Cards' loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and is considered day-to-day.

''If I'm able to run, I'm going to play football,'' Boldin told Arizona reporters Monday.

The three-time Pro Bowl player is one of the tougher wideouts in the league, so the Bears probably will see him even if he's not 100 percent. The Bears explored trading for Boldin over draft weekend.

Coach Lovie Smith said he was pleased with defensive tackle Tommie Harris after his week off, saying he ''was disruptive with his play.'' The defense needs more of that against Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who is not mobile in the pocket.

• Smith said free safety Danieal Manning's performance was his best defensive effort in four seasons as a Bear. He had an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six tackles. Lance Briggs led the team with 10 tackles. Al Afalava made nine.

• Smith said that safety Craig Steltz suffered a bruised left biceps. His status for Sunday is unknown.